Door construction



F eb. 20, 1934.

P. C. BALDWIN ET AL DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 18 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 20, 1934. P, c. BALDWIN E-r AL DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb- 20, 1934- P. c. BALDWIN E-r Al. 1,947,691

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,947,691 DOOR` CONSTRUCTION Application November 18; 192.9 Serial N0. 408,086

19 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in doors, and particularly to folding doors, suitable for hangars, garages, warehouses and the like, where opening and closing of the usual type of door is rendered very diicult by reason' of the necessarysize and weight of the door.

A particular feature' of our invention is the manner in which the door is mounted and folded for opening and closing movements, rendering such doors applicable to useV in building constructions' wherein head room is insufficient to accommodate vertically sliding doors or side room is insufficient to accommodate laterally sliding doors.

Further featuresV of our invention reside in the mechanism we employ for opening and closing the door, and the manner in which the door is automatically folded and unfolded during opening and closing movements. The ease withV which our improved type of door may be opened and closed permits heavier and more durable construction, particularly in doors of large size.

The merits of our invention, as well as the several novel featuresv thereof, will be more fully set forth in the following specification, ref-l' erence being made therein to the accompanying drawings wherein wel have illustrated our preferred s pecic embodiment. In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our door in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the door' during its rst opening movement or final closing movement@ Fig. 3A isV likewise a side elevation of the door,

showing it in full open position;

Fig. 4 isan enlarged, fragmentary, detailedY view of the upper end of the door, in the positionillustrated in Fig. 1;Y

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, showing the upper end of the door, in the position illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed sectional View of the bottomv of the door, illustrating a guide means as it is when the door is in the position illustrated in Fig. l, the section being taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 8;

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, taken in side elevation, illustrating the guide means as it is when the door is in the position illustrated in Fig. 23

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary face view of the guide means shown in Figs. 6 and '7, being taken as indicatedr by thearrow 8 in Fig. 6;

Fig,` 9" is an enlarged View,l similar to Figs 4 and 5, showingjth dooriw'h it is in the" position illustrated'in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary face view of one side' of the door, illustrating the'v operating' mecha- -V nism, the view being taken when the4 door is in 613 the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4';

Fig. 11 illustrates a modified form of operating means; and

Figs. 412, 13 and14` are views diagrammatically illustrating modified arrangements of the; prin'- G5" ciples we employ.

It' is to bel understood', in connecti'on`- withl the instant disclosure, thatwe herein shovvand describe only the preferred' specific embodiment of the principlesof our invention, primarily for the" purpose of teaching to thoseskilledinf the art the manner of constructing and using' the sa'm, and not for me purpose of limingitsuse, ao that we reserve the' right to make such changes and modifications in structure and arrangement' [5 as will properly come within the scop of theA claims appended hereto.'

Referringno, tothe drawings, and first to` Figs. 1, Zand 3, the numeral 10` designates gen1' erally a'wall having a door opening 11 therein, S01 to be closedV by the door, the door andI opening being of such size that the door sectiiis swing through the opening during opening and' closing movements.

The door may be formed: Of a plur'alit'yof sec-u 35 tions, hingedly joined together to fold o iie up on" the other. In thepre'sentca'se we haveshown our preferred embodiment to be` composed of two door sections 12 and 13`hingedly vjoined tgether at 14. While the door sections may' 90' mounted to move in a horizontal plane, through" a door opening, during opening and elosihg movements, the main section being' mountedto` turn abouta vertical axis, we have here shown, in our preferred specifici embodiment, the' door 95 sectionsl mounted to swing in a" Vverticalpl'anel during opening and closing movements. In this` arrangement the door section 12-which we willv hereinafter term the" mainv s ectonthe section 13 being termed hereinafter the aiixiliaryJ4 seche. 10o tion-is mounted upon horizontally disposedv spindles 15l at each side thereof to turn about' a"4 horizontal axis. spindles 1 5 are supported in brackets 16 secured tothe wallV 10'Zat any con! venient place adjacent the top andside f the door opening 11. Brackets'l?, secured to the' top` edge 13 of the door section 12, provide pivotal bearing connections between' the door section: and spindles. spindles A15 are positioned and connection made wim the main door si'eetionnb to permit movement of the door section 12 from the position illustrated in Fig. 1, through that illustrated in Fig. 2, to that shown in Fig. 3.

The relative sizes of the main section l2 and the auxiliary section 13 may be arranged as desired, to suit particular conditions, but preferably, when only two are used, each will close substantially one-half of the opening 11.

Rails 19 extend upwardly above the top edge 18 of the door section 12, at either side thereof, and secured to their upper ends are counterweights 20; these weights being formed of a plurality of plates 21, secured together and to the rails 19 by suitable bolts 22, so that their weights may be varied as desired.

A chain or cable 23 is secured at one end tc a fixed support, as at 24, passed around a roller 25, carried by a bracket 26 secured to the upper end of one of the rails '19, thence around a roller 27 carried by a bracket 28, preferably secured tc the wall 10, thence over a roller 29, carried by a bracket 30, likewise preferably secured to the wall 10 immediately above the top of the door opening l1, thence downwardly and is connected adjacent the lower edge of the auxiliary panel 13, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The manner of connecting the chain or cable 23 with the auxiliary panel 13 is best illustrated in Fig. 8.

As precise relative positioning of the anchor 24, rollers 25, 27 and 29, as well as the point of connection with the auxiliary panel 13,cannot always be accomplished, and in order to maintain proper tension upon the cable 23, the form of connection with the V,auxiliary section 13 is, to an extent, compensating. This is accomplished by providing a sleeve 31 pivotally connected at its lower end toa bracket 32, the latter being secured adjacent the lower edge of the auxiliary panel. A rod 33, secured at one end to the cable 23, extends through a cap 34 on the upper end of sleeve 31 and is provided on its inner end with a head 35. An expansile, helical spring 36, conned between head 35 and the cap 34, exerts the proper tension upon the cable 23 and affords some compensation for slight variations in the required length of cable during movement of the door sections. The positioning of the anchor 24, rollers 25, 27 and 29, and the point of connection of the cable 23 with the auxiliary section 13, will, of course, be left to the skill of the mechanic in putting our invention to use.

The mechanism we prefer to employ for effecting movement of the main section 12, is best illustrated in Fig. 10. An operating shaft 37 is revolubly journalled in suitable bearing blocks 38 secured at suitable points to the wall 10. This shaft may be rotated either manually or by motor. For manual rotation a sprocket 39 is keyed upon shaft 37 and is operatively connected with a similar sprocket 40 through the medium of a sprocket chain 41. Sprocket 4G is loosely mounted upon a jack shaft 42, the latter being suitably journalled in bearing blocks 43 supported upon wall brackets 44. A sheave 45 is likewise loosely mounted upon shaft 42, and has a clutch member 46 adapted to releasably engage a complementary clutch member V47 on sprocket 40. Sheave 45 is axially slidable upon shaft 42, and its clutch member 46 is normally held in engagement with the complementary clutch member 47, through the medium of a bell crank 48 and contractile spring 49, the latter being connected between arm 50 and shaft 42. A pull downward upon the cord 51 will effect disengagement of the complementary clutch members 46 and 47, and upon releasing it re-engagement will be effected through the medium of the spring 49. A chain or cable 52 passed around the sheave 45 provides a means for manually rotating the latter.

Shaft 37 may be mechanicallyrotated through the medium of a suitable, reversible, electric motor 53, mounted adjacent to it and operatively connected thereto through the medium of spur gears 54 and 55. When a motor 53 is employed for operative purposes the clutch niembers 46 and 47 will, of course, be disengaged as hereinbeiore described.

The operative connection between the operating shaft 37 and the door section 12 is as follows: A yoke 56 is rotatably mounted upon shaft 37 through the medium of loose bearings 57. A screw 59 is revolubly journalled in a bearing 60, on yoke 56, being suitably held against axial movement therein, and is provided on one end with a bevel gear 61 meshing with gear 53. The

outer end of screw 59 screw-threadedly engages in a block 62, pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft 63 carried by a bracket 64, the latter being secured to the rail 19.

All of the operating mechanism heretofore described, including the cable 23, with its rollers 25, 27 and 29, and the form of connection with the auxiliary panel 13, may be at one side of the door, or it may all be duplicated on the opposite side, shaft 37, for this purpose, extending along the wall to the opposite side of the door. Preferably the entire operating means will be provided at each side of the door.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 we have illustrated a means for not only guiding' the bottom edge of the auxiliary panel 13 to proper position upon closing of the door, but also to throw Athe auxiliary panel 13 oil center during early opening movement of the door, so as not to place undue tension or strain upon the cable 23, which may not Vbe compensated for by the form of connection with the lower panel 13. This means maintains the lower edge of the auxiliary section 13 somewhat in vertical alignment with the wall 10,

while its hinged connection 14 is moving laterally from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. This consists of a guide bar 65, longitudinally movable through a recess 66 in the lower edge of the auxiliary section 13. A guide sleeve 67, through which the bar 65 slides, is pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of the recess 66, upon a suitable bracket 68. The lower end of the bar 65 is preferably provided with a non-friction roller 69, adapted to engage in a floor box or recess 70, preferably of the configuration shown in Fig. 6. The upper end of the bar 65 is provided with a pair of nonfriction rollers 7l, .adaptedto ride in an elongated guideway 72. extended position by the action of a contractile, helical spring 73, secured at its lower end to a fixed bracket 74 and at its upper end to the upper end oi the bar 65, as shown.

In operation the door sections swing through a vertical plane, during. opening and closing movements, from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, and vice versa, and during such movement the door sections foldably and unfoldably move relative to each other.

Assuming the door to be closed, as shown in Fig. 1, opening movement is eifected through manual rotation of the shaft 45, through the medium of chain or cable 52, which effects rotation of shaft 37, through the medium of Bar 65 is normally held in sprockets 49 and 39 and sprocket chain 41. Rotation of shaft 37 in the proper direction effects rotation of screw 59, through the medium of bevel gears 58 and 61, causing movement of block 62 along the screw, from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 9, resulting in swinging the door section 12 upon its spindles 15, from a vertical to a horizontal position, relative to the door opening 11. Rotation of the shaft 37 in the opposite direction will cause block 62 to travel along the screw 59 from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 9 back to the position shown in Figs. l and 4, effecting closing movement of the door section 12, from a horizontal to a Vertical position, relative to the door opening.

During opening and closing movements the auxiliary door 13 would normally depend in a vertical plane, but, due to the action of cable 23, it is folded upon the door section 12, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9. The positioning of the cable anchor 24, rollers 25, 27 and 29, and the point of connection or" the cable 23 with the auxiliary section 13, is such that during opening and closing movements of the door the auxiliary panel 13 will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3 and the cable 23 kept taut. As the door section 12 swings from vertical alignment, thus moving the hinged connection 14 and the upper edge of auxiliary section 13 laterally, the lower end oi bar 65 is retained within the floor box 70 by the action of spring 73, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This keeps the lower edge of auxiliary section 13 practically in vertical alignment with the wall, throwing the upper edge of section 13 off center so as not to place undue strain upon cable 23. The length of bar 65 may be varied to suit particular conditions. While in open position, as shown in Fig. 3, spring 73 holds bar 65 in extended position, and as the section 13 swings downwardly, during closing movement, the lower end of bar 65 will engage in the floor box 70, thus bringing the auxiliary section 13 into proper closed position.

Counterweights 20 may be dispensed with if desired, but their retention adds to ease of operation, due to their balancing effect.

When the mechanism is operated by the niotor 53, the operation is the same, suitable reversing gear being provided to eiiect opening and closing movements.

In Fig. 11 we have illustrated a modified form of means for operatively connecting shaft 37 with rail 19. This consists of an arm 75, iixed upon shaft 37, and having an angular upper end 76 engaging in an elongated slot 77 in the edge of rail 19.

How the invention may embody a door construction of more than two sections is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l2. Here sections 12 and 13, interconnecting chain or cable 23, and all the other elements except the added door section 13a, have the same functions as corresponding parts of Fig. 3. The oniy essential diiferenoe between the construction shown in the two fl res is that sections 12 and 13 are relatively less extensive in Fig. 12, the difference being accounted for by the third section 13a which is merely hinged to the lower edge of section 13 to depend vertically therefrom at all stages of the doors operation.

Figs. 13 and 14 diagrammatically illustrate an improvement over the construction shown in Fig. 12 wherel the third and lowerrnost section, in this case 13b, is caused to fold with the other sections when the door is open. rThe improvement consists in extending rails 73 upward from sections 13b above its hinged connection with section 13, and in providing camsurfaces 79 on rails 19 to coact with rails 78 to force door section 13b into the folded position shown in Fig. 14. Preferably rails 78 have terminal non-friction rollers 80 to facilitate such action, In the operation of the door, the chain or cable 23, sections 12 and 13, and rails 19 serve in the same manner as in the preferred embodiment. Towards the end of the opening movement of the door, however, rollers 80 engage cam-surfaces 79 and fold section 13b against section 13, as shown in Fig. 14.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A door comprising: a plurality of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles upon which one of said sections is pivotally mounted to turn about a horizontal axis; means. to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles and flexible means operated by said pivotally mounted section to cause folding and unfolding movement or" one of said sections relative to the other.

2. A door comprising: a plurality of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles upon which one of said sections is pivotally mounted; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and flexible means operated by said pivotally mounted section to cause folding and unfolding movement of one of said sections relative to the other.

3. A door comprising: a plurality of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles upon which one of said sections is pivotally mounted; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and a flexible member secured at one end to a fixed support and connecting said door sections, whereby folding movement oi' said door sections, relative to each other, is effected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section.

4. A door comprising: a pair of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles upon which one of said secl tions is pivotally mounted to turn about a horizontal axis; guide means on the other of said sections; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and iiexible means associated with said pivotally mounted section whereby folding and unfolding movement of said sections, relative to each other, is effected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section.

5. A door comprising: a plurality of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles upon which one of said sections is pivotally mounted; an operating shaft; an operative connection between said operating shaft and the pivotally mounted section, whereby the pivotally mounted section is caused to turn upon said spindles; and flexible means connecting said door sections to cause folding movement of said sections, relative to each other, upon movement of the pivotally an operating i CII shaft; an operative connection between said operating shaft and the pivotally mounted section, whereby the pivotally mounted section is caused to turn upon said spindles; and a iiexible member secured at one end to a fixed support and connecting said door sections, whereby folding movement oi said door sections, relative to each other, is effected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section.

'7. A door comprising: a pair of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles upon which one of said sections is pivotally mounted to turn about a horizontal axis; guide means on the other of said sections; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and flexible means connecting said door sections to cause folding movement of said sections, relative to each other, upon movement or" the pivotally mounted section.

8. A door comprising: a pair of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles upon which one of said sections is pivotally mounted to turn about a horizontal axis; guide means on the other of said sections; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and a flexible member secured at one end to a nxed support and connecting said door sections, whereby folding movement of said door sections, relative to each other, is effected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section.

9, The combination with a wall having an opening therein, of a pluraliti of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles, xed relative to lsaid opening, upon which one of said sections is pivotally mounted to swing through the opening; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and a flexible member secured at one end adjacent the opening and connecting said door sections, whereby folding movement of said door sections, relative to each other, is effected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section.

l0. The combination with a wall having an opening therein, or a plurality of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles, iixed relative to said opening, upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted to swing through the opening, about a horizontal axis; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and flexible means connecting said door sections to cause said sections to fold relative to the uppermost section upon movement of the uppermost section upon said spindles.

l1. The combination with a wall having an opening therein, of a plurality of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles, xed relative to said opening, upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted to swing through the opening, about a horizontal axis; guide means on the lower-most section; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and flexible means connecting said door sections to cause said sections to fold relative to the uppermost section upon movement of the uppermost section upon said spindles.

l2. The combination 'with a wall having an opening therein, of a pair or" door s ctions hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles, xed relative to said opening,

upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted, to swing through the opening, about a horizontal axis; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and flexible means connecting said door sections to cause said sections to fold, relative to each other, upon movement or the uppermost section upon said spindles.

18. The combination with a wall havingr an opening therein,l of a pair of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles, fixed relative to said opening, upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted, to swing through the opening, about a horizontal axis; guide means upon the other ci' said sections; kmeans to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and flexible means connecting said door sections to cause said sections to fold, relative to each other, upon movement of the uppermost section upon said spindles.

le. The combination with a wall having an opening therein, of a plurality of door sections liingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles, nxed relative to said opening, upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted, to swing through the opening, about a horizontal axis; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and a ilexible member secured at one end adjacent the opening and connecting said door sections, whereby folding movement of said door sections, relative to each other, is effected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section.

l5. The combination with a wall having an opening therein, of a pair of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles, xed relative to said opening, upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted, to swing through the opening, about a horizontal axis; means to cause said pivotally mounted section to turn upon said spindles; and a flexible member secured at one end adjacent the opening and connecting said door sections, whereby folding movement of said door sections, relative to each other, is eiected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section.

16. The combination with a Wall having an opening therein, of a pair or" door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles xed relative to the top of said opening upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted to swing through the opening about a horizontal axis; an operating shaft; an operative connection between said operating shaft and the pivotally mounted section, whereby the pivotally mounted section is caused to turn upon said spindles; and exible means connecting said door sections to cause folding movement of said sections relative to each other, upon movement of the pivotally mounted secnon.

1'?. The combination with a wall having an. opening therein, or a pair of door sections hingedlv connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles iixed relative to the top of said opening' upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted to swing through the opening about a horizontal axis; an operating shaft; an operative connection between said operating shaft and the pivotally mounted section, whereturn upon said spindles; and a iiexible membel' secured at one end to a xed support and connecting said door sections, whereby folding movement of said door sections, relative to each other, is effected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section.

18. The combination with a wall having an opening therein, of a pair of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles, xed relative to the top of said opening, upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted to swing through the opening about a horizontal axis; an operating shaft; an operative connection between said operating shaft and the pivotally mounted section, whereby the pivotally mounted section is caused to turn upon said spindles; guide means on the other of said sections; and a flexible member secured at one end to a fixed support and connecting said door sections, whereby folding movement of said door sections, relative to each other, is effected upon movement of the pivotally mounted section,

19. The combination with a wall having an opening therein, of a pair of door sections hingedly connected together to fold one upon the other; spindles xed relative to the top of said opening upon which the uppermost section is pivotally mounted to swing through the opening about a horizontal axis; an operating shaft; an operative screw connection between said operating shaft and the pivotally mounted section, whereby the pivotally mounted section is caused to turn upon said spindles; and means driven by the uppermost section to fold the lowermost section against said uppermost section.

PIERSON C. BALDWIN. FREDERICK W. SCHWEER. 

